China is revving up efforts of wetland resource conservation, Zhao Xuemin, deputy director of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) told Environment China Supplement before the 10th World Wetland Day on February 2, 2006.

"We will strengthen creation and administration of natural reserves so that they effectively curb wetland shrinking and deterioration," Zhao said.

"Natural reserves play a pivotal role in wetland protection, especially now when laws and regulations concerning wetland conservation are scarce or absent," he said.

They have become the bases for monitoring wetland resources, conducting scientific research, and launching educational campaigns to raise environmental awareness of the public.

Wen Yali, professor of Beijing Forestry University, who has conducted in-depth studies on comprehensive management of wetland resources, said authorities have developed a well-proven method to ensure that wetlands receive better protection in natural reserves.

To date, the Chinese government has established 473 natural wetland reserves, covering a total area of 43.46 million hectares, according to statistics released by the SFA.

A nationwide wetland-protection network is in place. Nearly 45 per cent of natural wetland in China is now under conservation. According to the SFA, the figure is expected to reach 50 per cent in 2010 and rise to more than 90 per cent by 2030.

Continuing effort

Compared to developed countries, wetland conservation efforts in China seriously lack investment from public finance channels.

Despite the stumbling block, wetland protection in China continues to make substantial progress through constant effort.

In 1995, the SFA initiated the first nationwide research project on wetland resources since 1949. With more than 1,000 technical staff directly involved, the project lasted eight years and studied a number of wetland patches.

The study provided a solid basis for formulation of related laws and regulations, and scientific decisions.

It showed that irrational reclamation, worsening pollution and overuse of wetland biological resources are the major threats to wetland eco-environment in the country.

Based on the study findings, the SFA, in coordination with some other government bodies involving in wetland conservation, mapped out an overall strategy for protection and wise use of wetland resources, in an attempt to bolster the sustainable development capacity of the wetland ecological system.

The SFA considers wetland conservation a priority among its short-term goals, especially natural wetland, and wetland projects are the principal way to achieve this.

Following the National Wetland Conservation Project Plan proposed in 2003, the SFA forged out a near-term implementation scheme for 2005 to 2010. It was approved by the State Council last year.

The scheme covers wetland projects in conservation, restoration, sustainable exploitation, and management improvement, all aimed at promotion of wetland eco-environment conservation.

According to the scheme, nearly 9 billion yuan (US$1.11 billion) will be invested in wetland projects by 2010.

Last year, a specialized governmental agency, the Wetland Office, was set up. One of its main tasks is to draft laws and regulations on wetland conservancy.

Though local codes and regulations have been accepted in some regions, lack of laws and regulations under the existing legal system has hampered the advance of wetland conservancy.

The SFA has made great efforts to improve legislative procedures.

So far it has drafted a wetland conservation regulation, which has been listed in the State Council legislature plan.

Additionally, the authorities have launched a series of educational campaigns to popularize the idea of wetland and waterfowl protection. In some parts of China, school textbooks carry the topic.

Non-government environmental groups are also becoming a dynamic force in this area.

International cooperation

The year 1992 witnessed China joining the Ramsar Convention, an important multinational agreement on wetland protection.

As a member country, China has been committed to wetland conservation, working in close co-operation with the international community.

At present, 30 wetlands in the country, including nine high-latitude ones, are named in the Ramsar List, a directory of important wetlands in the world.

These internationally recognized wetlands receive greater financial and technological support from home and abroad. The overseas donations are expected to substantially ease the financial strain on the Chinese government.

With the help of the international community, the authorities have initiated a number of environmental projects, exploring opportunities of wetland ecology recovery.

"We will also do our best to promote opportunities for international cooperation and further improve the convention decision mechanism," Zhao said.

China's outstanding performance and high sense of responsibility have won the world's respect.

At the ninth general meeting of the convention held last November in Kampala, capital of Uganda, China was elected executive member of the council by unanimous vote.

Chinese professor Cai Shuming, who is recognized mainly for his research on the effect of wetland projects on environment system, was also honored at Kampala with the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award for Science.

Sustainable development

"In spite of the substantial success we have achieved, we still have a long way to go," Zhao noted.

With increasing reclamation and urban development, wetlands are shrinking sharply; overuse of biological resources has pushed some wetland species to the edge of extinction; industrial pollution is also a major threat to the ecological system.

Zhao said, "Compared to 'kidney of the earth', wetlands play an important role in sustainable economic development and human well-being."

Currently, China is building a harmonious society, and the harmony between human beings and nature is an important part of this.

Wen noted that wise use of environmental resources benefits people socially and economically.

In China most wetlands are situated in rural areas, and hence their resources, a major revenue source for rural residents, are important in rural life.

It is now being increasingly accepted that sound management and rational exploitation of wetland resources is instrumental to reducing poverty in rural areas.

Since the Chinese government brought forward the scheme of "building a new countryside" last year, revitalization of the rural economy has become an urgent mission faced by local authorities.

Developing a harmonious relationship between economic growth and environmental conservation is key to this success.

"When assessing the performance of the economic sector, we should take environmental cost into account," a conservationist said.

Experts have made it clear that rapid economic growth at the cost of environmental deterioration can only lead to disaster.

(China Daily January 23, 2006)